Not coping well

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It's been 5 days since my Gastroscopy and the consultant presenting me with images of my 8cm tumour and being told it's not good news.  I just keep having flashbacks of him coming through the curtains with the pictures and showing me what was found. Waiting now on the CT scan and biopsies to grade this is a living hell, but I know no matter what, everything's changed and I'm just in complete disbelief.   I'm not sleeping, not eating as it hurts too much and can only manage drinks, the weight is falling off every day.   I'm crying then I'm feeling hopeful but ultimately hopeless and in a really dark place.  Im just at a complete loss.  Convinced myself of the worst and read too much on Google and don't even have the TNM yet.   I feel pathetic that I can be 'strong' and 'stay positive' I'm trying to find fight but just feeling sorry for myself but moreso my wife and kids and what they are going to have to deal with in the coming months.  I'm scared. I don't want to die, but I also want to end it now if that makes sense. I don't know what to do. Wish I could be stronger than this and change my mindset.

  • So sorry to read this post it’s not a easy journey I’m glad that I didn’t see any scans and they didn’t show me the size of my tumour but it must of been fairly large as I couldn’t eat at all and had I jej feeding tube ! Once you get the staging and a plan you just have to take it one day at a time don’t try to think too far ahead. 

    a lot of us on here have been in your shoes and come out the other side ! It’s a year today since I had my surgery so I know it’s not easy just try to stay positive even if it’s just for your family as how you cope with it will determine how they cope !! I believe the macmillan help line are great this may be an idea to talk to them ! Tricia xx

  • IanT, you are in the right place to say how you are feeling, as dibden doll said, we are out the other side, i still remember the guy coming in after the endoscopy and saying i am pretty sure its cancer, things will move quickly, but you are on the path for treatment.  the waiting is ridicolous what it does to your mind, let alone the physical side, mentally mine was the bigger issue.  But you arent alone honestly

    once you have discussions, they will usually grade it, size etc, then going on all the treatments us lot have been through, there is chemo, radiotherapy and surgery.  none of it is easy, but you will get through it, even if its like you havent been in the room.  We cant always be positive, god knows ive had some days, so dont apologise for that.  i had mine pop up after my breast cancer treatmet finished, i thought well we did it once, this little s**t is another level, but that is why you will be under the right team that do this all day long.  If they offer you a feeding tube, i would say take it, i lost weight that i didnt have to lose, and being bottle fed by the NHS gave me 1500 calories a day

    Any question you have just shout it out on here, more than one of this new "family" will have first hand experience and support.

    I kept lists and questions, half the time i came out with my husband thinking what the hell just happened.  Stay off Google, The support, honest good advice and previous experiences that i had from this "family" from people that were where you are now, the ones that have been there, seen it and wearing the scars and t-shirt, when the people nearest didnt know what to do or say, got me through a hell of a lot.  

    Sending hugs and strength, you will be amazed how flipping deep you can dig, without even realising you are, just keep asking, we are all here, even in the hours where the brain wont turn off.

    julesHugging

  • Thank you, insight from people who have been through this is helpful.  Ive always feared something like this. I lost my Dad when he was 59, twenty years ago so it changed my outlook on life and made me fearful I would die young and now this.  It's the limbo at the moment, the waiting and not knowing but thinking it's spread etc, just overthinking everything.  Getting myself too worked up, probably need to reach out to the helpline but don't know where I would start.  Time is passing so slowly since the Gastroscopy.  Thank you for your words and advice.

  • Thank you Tricia, I think I need to pick up the phone and speak to the help line.